There is a religiously believed and also practised myth and that is; in order to save energy, close registers in the unused rooms. The fact is, doing so not only badly affects the HVAC system and the ductwork but also creates some very bizarre indoor air quality and air flow problems. We as HVAC specialists suggest homeowners time and again not to close their registers in the hope of saving energy or keeping some rooms overly cold/warm. It needs to be understood that the HVAC system does not work solely on its own and the same is true for the ductwork. Both work in coordination with one another. Disturbing one simply means disturbing the other as well. Below, we discuss in detail why closing registers in unused rooms is not a good idea at all.

- Energy saving? No such thing happens dude 

The heating/cooling temperature is not determined by the registers. It is determined by the thermostat which you set at whatever temperature you want the indoor to be. In that case, the HVAC system will continue to operate until it reaches that temperature. The HVAC system does not know whether the registers are opened or closed. So there's no energy saving at all. The system runs for as long as it usually does.

- Comfort compromise 

While the registers are closed to attain more comfort, doing so actually increases discomfort. This happens when the airflow is disturbed. The supply of airflow is not affected by closing the registers. It is in fact controlled by the dampers present within the branch ducts. So the airflow goes all the way to the opening and finds it closed. Since the air does not find a way out from the duct, it returns and this return disturbs the air flow in the rest of the rooms as well, resulting in discomfort or hot and cold spots.

- Pressure problems  

Homeowners close supply registers but the return resisters remain open. This way the air from the room where there is no air supplied keeps on evacuating creating a negative air pressure in the room. With a negative air pressure created, the room tries to suck air from the outdoor and does so by sucking air from holes and leaks. This affects the indoor air quality as the contaminated, unfiltered air from cracks and holes seeps in.

- Wear and tear problem 

Pressure is created in the ductwork which affects the dampers, the blowers as well as the supply registers which are closed. This increases the risk of wear and tear. In the case of foil ductwork, the ductwork may develop massive leaks.

Keeping the above-mentioned consequences, it can be deducted that closing registers offers no genuine benefit. Even the benefits for which the registered are closed are not actually received. So if you have been practising closing registers, do it no more. Neither your energy bills are getting any effect from that nor it does any help to add to the comfort level. Better try genuine ways to improve airflow and air quality.

Thanks to the technology for making things easy for us. We are employing one kind of technological advancement or the other in our daily lives today. One of such technological advancement is the Humidifier. An appliance that helps increase indoor humidity by increasing the moisture in the air. But hey! Appliances don't come for free and an appliance like Humidifier costs a minimum of $200. So what to do when you are tight on budget and can't afford to install a Humidifier? Are there any other ways to increase Humidity and avoid the discomfort which is caused by low humidity level? Fortunately, yes! There are simple and affordable ways to increase indoor humidity without using a costly Humidifier. So let's check out those ways:

Ways that can prove a good alternative to Humidifier 

- As the clothes air-dry, they evaporate water, don't they? Then why not let the clothes air-dry using a dryer rack or temporarily tying a dryer line? This will save energy and will increase the indoor humidity as well. Two in one!

- Placing bowls of water on windowsills and registers helps a great deal as well. The water evaporates and adds to the environment increasing its humidity

- Making coffee or tea? Instead of microwaving the mug in the microwave, better use the stove and heat water in pan or teapot. This will release moisture in the indoor and the humidity level is increased

- One of the coolest tricks is to leave the door open after taking shower or keeping it open as you take shower. The hot water moisture will spread rapidly in the room which will add to the humidity level at least in that part of the home

- Attached to the shower with the open door is the tip of not draining the bathtub water when it is still hot. Leave it there for some time with the bathroom door open. The hot water will evaporate and the moisture will spread. Drain it as the water cools off

- Plants do a great deal of help when it comes to moisture. Plants release moisture from their leaves almost all the time. The more they are kept moist, the more moisture they release which is called transpiration. So introducing some plants in the indoor is a cost-effective and genius idea to naturally and evenly increase indoor humidity

- Instead of drying the dishes in the dryer or with a cloth, let them air-dry. Once again, moisture which will be released will increase the moisture in the air

These are some of the ways that can help you in increasing the indoor humidity. But there are some exceptions as well. These DIY tips can increase the level to some extent only. If you are one such homeowner with some severe allergies from dry air, it is recommended to install a Humidifier so that the ideal humidity can be kept maintained. However, in normal conditions, where only a slight increase in moisture is needed, these DIY tips can suffice for you.

Did you find this blog interesting? Do you have some DIY suggestions for increasing indoor humidity? If yes, share with us.